Buies Creek, N.C. - Freshman Nicole Sleith (Smithton, Pa. / Yough) came on in relief in the season opener and went the distance in the nightcap to earn victories in her first two collegiate appearances Friday as she led the Robert Morris University softball team to victories over Towson, 3-2, and Campbell, 5-1, at Campbell's Hampton Inn Invitational at the Eakes Athletic Complex.
The Colonials had to rally from a two-run deficit in the final two innings in the opener but led from wire-to-wire against the host Camels.
With the wins, RMU started a campaign 2-0 for the first time since 2006 and just the third time since 1993. It also marked the first time since 1994 that Robert Morris allowed a combined three runs or fewer in the first two games of a season--incidentally, one of those contests was also against Campbell.
Sleith worked a combined 10 innings on the day and allowed just eight hits and a lone run during her time in the circle. She struck out seven batters and held opponents to a .229 average for the day.
Redshirt senior Jessica Calderone (Wilmington, Del. / St. Mark's) led the offensive effort for RMU as she went a combined 3-for-6 with a walk and added two runs scored and a RBI. Calderone actually went a perfect 3-for-3 in the opener against Towson, registering her 43rd multi-hit game and 12th 3-hit game in the process, as she edged closer to the top 10 in career hits.
Senior Jaci Timko (Houston, Pa. / Chartiers Houston) was on base three times on the day and came around to score on each occasion while also adding a double. With her trio of trips around the bases, Timko moved into fifth place all-time at RMU in career runs scored (98) as she surpassed her current assistant coach Lauren Dickinson.
In the nightcap against the Camels, RMU accomplished a couple of noteworthy feats. The Colonials drew at least eight walks in a game for the first time since April 30, 2006 against Quinnipiac. RMU also turned a pair of double plays, which marked the first time in its last 71 outings that it turned more than one DP in a single game.
In the opener against the Tigers, each squad knocked a one-out single in the first, but neither side could advance its runner.
Towson took the lead in the bottom of the second with a pair of singles sandwiched around a sacrifice bunt. The Tigers had chances to add on in the third and fourth frames, but they left a runner at second and runners on the corners, respectively.
Towson did grab another run in the fifth as it opened the inning with two singles and a walk to make it 2-0. However, Robert Morris made some key plays to keep the margin manageable.
With runners on second and third and still nobody out, sophomore Chelsea Siar (Glenshaw, Pa. / Shaler Area), starting her first-collegiate game at third base, fielded a grounder and sent the throw to freshman catcher Samantha Santillo (Ellwood City, Pa. / Lincoln) to nab the runner on a tag play. With two runners still aboard with one out, a groundout and a called strikeout ended the inning.
After escaping the Tiger threat with minimal damage, Robert Morris was able to get its offense going in the sixth and even the proceedings. Senior Allie Patton (Poland, Ohio / Poland) reached on an error with one out and scooted to second when Calderone singled up the middle. Timko followed by drilling a first-pitch double to left, which sent Calderone to third, but unfortunately for the Colonials, Patton was thrown out at home.
RMU's frustration would soon be turned around as Calderone came running home on a passed ball, with Timko moving to third, to make it a one-run game. On the next pitch, senior Sarah Capp (McKees Rocks, Pa. / Montour) knocked a clutch single up the middle to tie it at 2-2.
Sleith set down the Tigers in order in the home half on a pair of groundouts and a popup, which allowed Robert Morris to manufacture the winning run in the seventh.
Siar legged out an infield single with one out, after a seven-pitch battle, to start the rally, and senior Katrina Gallagher (Canonsburg, Pa. / Canon McMillan) was then inserted to pinch run. Junior Britta Grafton (Jamestown, Pa. / Jamestown) followed by executing a sacrifice bunt, moving Gallagher into scoring position. With two outs, a Tiger throwing error allowed Gallagher to scamper home with ease to give RMU its first lead.
Sleith allowed a leadoff walk in the seventh but responded with the poise of a veteran by retiring each of the next three hitters. A groundout moved the tying run to second with two outs, but Sleith handled a comebacker to end the game and notch her first-collegiate win.
Robert Morris used a different approach in its second game as it struck early. The Colonials tallied a run in the first, and it all started with two outs. After a Timko walk, Capp singled to right center on 3-2 pitch, and the speedy centerfielder was able to score all the way from first.
Campbell loaded the bases in the first, but Sleith got a swinging strikeout to keep the Colonials ahead.
After each of the next three half-innings were of the 1-2-3 variety, the Camels put runners on the corners with two away. The RMU defense made a key play to end the inning as sophomore Chelsea Evans (Beaver Falls, Pa. / Riverside) gunned down the trail runner trying to swipe second.
RMU doubled its lead in the fourth as Timko again started things with a walk. Capp then put down a sacrifice and later in the frame Grafton walked which put runners on the corners with two outs. Grafton then looked to steal but subsequently got caught up in a rundown long enough for Timko to race home before the Camels could catch Grafton.
Campbell notched a leadoff double in the fourth but could not do anything else as its next three batters recorded two strikeouts and a lineout.
The Colonials continued to tack on insurance runs in the fifth. Gallagher and Evans walked consecutively to open the inning before a groundout advanced both runners. Calderone then tallied a RBI on a fielder's choice on which no out was recorded. Patton followed with another fielder's choice RBI to score Evans and make it 4-0.
The Camels again threatened in the fifth when they put runners on the corners with one out, but sophomore Cassie Show (Connellsville, Pa. / Connellsville) started a 6-3 GDP to end the inning.
Each side had at least one runner on in the sixth, but both teams recorded line-drive double plays to end the frame.
RMU got its final run in the seventh when Calderone walked with two outs and came around all the way from first to score on a first-pitch double by Patton.
Sleith lost her shutout bid with a solo homer in the seventh, but she retired the other three batters to close out a successful opening day for the Colonials.
The victory marked RMU's first-ever win against Campbell in four tries.
Patton's multi-RBI game against the Camels was the seventh of her career.
RMU will close out the tournament Saturday with games at 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. The Colonials will face St. Joseph's and Ohio, a squad which is currently 4-1 and is playing Campbell tonight.
